The second round of discussions between private degree college managements and the department of collegiate education on the Common Admission Process (CAP) on admissions to undergraduate courses on Tuesday turned out to be stormy affair.
Higher education minister Aravind Limbavali took the private colleges to task and indirectly warned them that if they went against the government on the issue of admission, they would have to face the consequences.
The minister was responding to a plea from a representative of Jyoti Nivas College asking him not to deprive the colleges of their rights regarding admissions. “I am not trying to strip the colleges of their rights and if you question the government’s decision, I will have to conduct an inquiry about the admission process you follow vis-a-vis minority reservations,” Limbavali shot back.
“If you people talk about rules, then it is not difficult for me to make it a rule and add it to the act. But if I do that, it won’t be good governance,” the minister added.
The private college representatives felt that the minister was trying to arm-twist them by issuing veiled threats. Recently, he had done the same to private professional colleges which did not agree for a single CET, they pointed out. The minister had announced that he would bring in legislation to give the government the power to fix fees, seat matrix and single CET, they claimed.
They, however, agreed to firm up their proposals and return to the negotiating table after 10 days. They have also asked the department to submit its proposal in writing.
University Private College Managements Association (BUPCMA), said, “After the TMA Pai judgment, the private managements have the right to conduct admissions and now we can do it with consensus.”
“The department must give us a proposal in writing and if it is favourable to students, then the managements will have to agree,” he told the officials.
The officials have already worked out tentative dates for the admission-related events.
Dr N Nagambika Devi, commissioner of the department, said, “We have decided to start the process on a pilot basis at Bangalore and Shimoga and we have also worked out a plan. If the managements are not convinced, they are free to make other suggestions.”
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